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Save Water, Energy, Money and the Environment

Volume 11, Number 3

 March 2015 
IN THIS ISSUE...
Calling Volunteers!
SCG
SCE
Sanitation Districts
West Basin
City of Torrance
L.A. Metro
Staff Spotlight
Legislation Corner
South Bay in the News
March 2015 Events & Workshops
A Worthy Read
Interesting Domestic and International Articles Discussing the Environment, Energy Efficiency and Water Conservation





 

Upcoming HHW/E-Waste Collection Events






CALLING VOLUNTEERS!

There has never been a better time to help out and be recognized.  

Check out our volunteer program and learn how to get involved.   
You can make a huge difference! 
 

 Visit Our Cities


Carson
El Segundo
Gardena
Hawthorne
Hermosa Beach
Inglewood
Lawndale  
Lomita
Manhattan Beach
Palos Verdes Estates
Rancho Palos Verdes
Redondo Beach
Rolling Hills
Rolling Hills Estates
Torrance

Residents in San Pedro, Harbor City / Harbor Gateway & Wilmington

County Unincorporated Areas in South Bay 
(District 2 or District 4)
  

2015 REBATE INFORMATION 

  

Southern California Gas Company  

 

Southern California Edison

 

West Basin Municipal Water District  

 

 En Español

 

Southern California Gas Company


Southern California Edison

 

Sanitation Districts of LA County


Metro - "El Pasajero"

 

 

 

Find us on FacebookFollow us on TwitterView our profile on LinkedIn

 

 

www.sbesc.com 

  
To read the South Bay Cities Council of Governments' latest edition of its newsletter, 
South Bay Watch,
click here

Where Does Your City Rank in the 

SCE Energy Leader Partnership Program?

 

Platinum Tier
20% Energy Reduction 
City of Lawndale
City of Lomita
City of Manhattan Beach

 

Gold Tier
10% Energy Reduction 
City of El Segundo
City of Hawthorne
City of Inglewood

City of Rancho Palos Verdes

 

Silver Tier
5% Energy Reduction 
City of Carson
City of Hermosa Beach
City of Redondo Beach
City of Torrance 
 
Valued Level
City of Gardena
City of Palos Verdes Estates
City of Rolling Hills
City of Rolling Hills Estates

Did You Know?

Did you know that 70% of lightbulbs in the U.S. are still inefficient models?

Message From the Executive Director of SBCCOG

 

As March ushers in a new season, we can consider what needs to go and what can stay when we begin "spring cleaning". However, this is not an excuse to just throw things away or simply trash possessions that we no longer can find a use for.  Determine if these items can be recycled, repurposed or redistributed before deciding that they are ripe for the waste bin. For those products that are at the end of their useful life, make sure to dispose of them in the proper way and at the right place (see Sanitation Districts of L.A. County's Hazardous & E-Waste Collection Program mentioned in the articles below). This way of thinking not only gets the job done but also can provide benefits to others less fortunate and to the community as a whole.

 

And, considering how dry our rainy season has been, every drop of rain that we get is as important as ever.  Be sure to look into rebates for rain barrel purchase or call (310) 371-4633 to learn more about available water conservation programs. And get into the spirit of spring by reading the articles in this month's newsletter.

 

And finally, thank you to those of you that attended our 16th Annual General Assembly last month.  There are presentation materials and photos for those who missed out, which are now posted on www.southbaycities.org. 


 

The General Assembly was designed to kick off a continuing conversation with stakeholders about the challenges and opportunities facing the South Bay over the next 10 years. In an effort to nurture and further develop that dialogue, we are going to post a question each month on our website for anyone to answer--just submit your response via our Facebook page or Twitter handle (@SBESC). 


 


Jacki Bacharach


 

Southern California Gas CompanyThe Gas Company

No-Cost, Energy-Saving Home Improvements

  

SoCalGas® offers many ways in which income-qualified customers may improve the comfort of their home while conserving energy and saving money.

At no cost to the customer, SoCalGas®' Energy Savings Assistance Program offers qualified homeowners and renters improvement options like:

  • Weather-stripping for doors
  • Caulking
  • Faucet aerators
  • Low-flow shower heads
  • Attic insulation
  • Minor home repairs
  • Furnace and water heater repair or replacement 

Read More

 

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Southern California EdisonSCE  

Do You Know the Difference Between a Surge Protector and a Power Strip?

 

Surge protectors and power strips both allow you to plug in several appliances into one location, but it's important for you to know the key differences. A surge protector will divert or suppress the extra voltage caused by power surges. It will help protect your electronic devices from electrical spikes. A power strip simply provides more outlets for a circuit.

Energy Safety Tips

 

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Sanitation Districts of LA County

Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County

Would You Like a Speaker for Your Next Meeting or Event?

 

The Sanitation Districts' Speakers Bureau provides speakers, at no cost, to come to your organization, business, or school and give presentations on their agency and the issues they face. Their most popular presentation is an overview of the Sanitation Districts, but they also provide more specific presentations on their wastewater, solid waste, and energy recovery programs as well as other topics. 

To schedule a presentation, please contact Sanitation Districts here. 

 

REMINDER: Due to significant unavoidable rising costs and the availability of alternate facilities and programs, the Palos Verdes Recycle Center (PVRC) will close permanently on March 31, 2015. 


 

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West Basin Municipal Water DWest Basinistrict 
Water Conservation Plant Fairs at Home Depot 

 

Save money and water with Home Depot and West Basin! Together, they are providing great discounts (3 for $10) on select varieties of low water-use plants. Participants will receive information on water-saving soils and high-efficiency irrigation technology. Help conserve during this drought by creating your own California friendly garden! 

Dates and Locations Listed Here

 

City of Torrance 
City of Torrance

Upcoming FREE California Friendly Landscape Workshops

 

Become a more water-wise gardener, learning 6 ways to make your garden "California Friendly" at these upcoming workshops. The City of Torrance is hosting them on 3 different dates at West High School from 9am - 12pm. Register today for any of the following dates:
L.A. Metro
What is a Vanpool?

 

With gas prices rising, traffic congestion increasing, and energy resources dwindling, smart long-distance commuters are seizing the opportunity to turn an often costly and frustrating daily commute into a more pleasant experience. It's called vanpooling.

Read More
 

ExpressLanes

The carpool lanes on the I-110 Harbor Transitway (between Adams Bl. and Harbor Gateway Transit Center) and the I-10 El Monte Busway (between Alameda St and I-605) have been converted to High-Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes, known as ExpressLanes. For the first time, these lanes are open to solo drivers for a toll. All drivers, including carpools, will need a FasTrak® transponder to use the ExpressLanes. Eligible carpools and vanpools with FasTrak will continue to travel toll-free. Motorcycles do not need a transponder. General purpose lanes will continue to remain toll-free. 

Read More

 

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Staff Spotlight 
Aaron Baum - Environmental Services Analyst 

    

From the outside to the inside, Aaron has joined the SBCCOG Environmental Service Team as an employee in the position of Environmental Services Analyst. For the last 3 years Aaron has worked as a consultant Project Manager on both the SBCCOG's Local Use Vehicles (LUV) and Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) programs. A graduate of the USC Annenberg School of Communications with a stint at the Rand Corp. as well as years of consulting in the transportation and communications field, Aaron comes to the Team with a strong background in project management in the area of transportation and mobility.  

 

We look forward as Aaron applies his experience and entrepreneurial energies - he's run a small food business - to revitalizing the Van Pool Program, working with the Outreach Team to spread the good word about environmental resources and to his contributions with new and exciting mobility projects that are taking place in the South Bay.  

 

Legislation Corner 

Election 2015: Voter Message Clear on Hermosa Beach's Measure O, Unsettled on Redondo Beach's Measure B
 

When the dust settled on March 4th from elections of historic proportions in neighboring beach communities, this much was clear: It's time to move on in Hermosa Beach, and back to the drawing board in Redondo Beach.

 

By nearly a 3-to-1 margin, Hermosa Beach voters Tuesday rejected a plan to drill for oil and gas from the city's maintenance yard - an issue that has dogged the tiny, cash-strapped city for three decades and is unlikely to be revisted.

Read More

South Bay in the News 
Call for Nominations for Metro South Bay Service Council 

 

The SBCCOG is opening nominations to fill 3 expiring seats on Metro's South Bay Service Council, a representative group of user-oriented problem solvers who devote the time to really understanding transit service in general and the needs of the South Bay in particular. Our goal is to continue that representation by looking for nominees in the categories outlined above with diverse geographic representation from all parts of the South Bay. 

Read More

 

Poetry Slam and Climate Change Awareness Night

Green Ambasadors from Environmental Charter High School in Lawndale are hosting a Poetry Slam on Wednesday, March 25th from 4:30pm - 7pm featuring 9th and 10th grade students speaking out about social and environmental justice. Throughout the evening you can view informative exhibits and learn how to reduce your carbon footprint, as well as explore student art pieces related to energy, carbon footprints and climate change solutions.

Flyer 

 

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March 2015 Events & Workshops 
Click Here to See a List of Upcoming Workshops & Events